125 Years of Life
As of October 2008, we have entered our 125th year of life. Let's look at what it took for the founders to have a church building for St. John Church.
During the first six years after the organization of the congregation, services were held in the homes of members and in the Presbyterian Church. In the first worship service of the congregation held in the Presbyterian Church, the opening hymn was the hymn of praise; "Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!"
It was good to be able to use the Presbyterian Church building for worship services, but the congregation wanted to have their own church building. This desire grew and, under the able leadership of Pastor C. Lengtat, the congregation began working toward making the dream become a reality.
Members of the church gave to a fund for a church building. Collections were made. Loans from 3 individuals in the total amount of $400.00 were made at 6% interest.
Heeding the advice of John Strauss, who later became the first pastor, the congregation looked for land in the Village of Robinson. With funds to use, the congregation was able to look seriously.
Dr. John Scott Tate (1842-1920) of Missouri, had come to Texas in the fall of 1868. He first settled at Mooresville where he practiced four years, moving to Robinsonville in 1872. He remained here until 1883, when he moved to Coryell County and settled on a ranch. In 1888 he returned to McLennan County and re-established a practice at Robinsonville. His wife was a member of the old-school Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Tate.s brother, James T. Tate (1849-1903) also moved to Texas and was a builder.
The land on which the church was built - lots one and three of Block 13 in the town of Robinsonville - was deeded to Christ Rueter, Wm. Schaeper, and C. Lengtat, trustees of St. Johns Church of the German Evangelical Synod of North America by J.T. Tate by Warranty Deed dated December 7, 1889. Mr. Tate was paid $100.00 for the land.
J.T. Tate also served as contractor in the building of the church structure, for which he was paid $597.00.
Completed in 1890, the building, 22 feet wide and 36 feet long was completed largely by the use of volunteer labor at a total cost of $754.80. The congregation now had their own church building.
One of the streets in Robinson bears the name of Tate.
